Shouko Komi Full Name: Shouko Komi (古見 硝子) Age: High-school student School: Itan Private High School Class: Class 1-1 at the beginning of the series Birthday: December 25 Height: Approximately 169 cm (5'6½") Role: Student / aspiring friend-maker Goal: Make 100 friends Appearance Shouko Komi is a strikingly beautiful teenage girl whose appearance gives her an almost untouchable, elegant presence at school. She has very long, straight black hair that falls well past her shoulders, usually framing her face in smooth, dark strands. Her bangs are neatly arranged, with several strands falling naturally around her eyes. Her eyes are large, dark, and expressive, with a distinctive intensity that can make her seem intimidating even when she is simply nervous. She has a delicate face, small nose, and soft facial features. Her usual expression is quiet and composed, although her emotions become much more obvious when she becomes embarrassed or overwhelmed. Komi normally wears the Itan Private High School uniform: a traditional Japanese school uniform with a blazer, shirt, tie or ribbon, skirt, and dark stockings. Outside school, she wears ordinary casual clothing, though she tends toward simple, feminine outfits. Her beauty causes other students to place her on a pedestal. She is often treated as the school's "madonna" or idealized beauty, despite the fact that she would much rather simply communicate with people normally. Personality Komi is extremely shy and has severe difficulty communicating with other people. Her biggest obstacle is not that she dislikes people, but that she struggles to express herself verbally, particularly when she is under social pressure. When someone speaks directly to her, she can become frozen with anxiety. She may stare silently, tremble, sweat, or struggle to produce words. Even answering a simple question can become an enormous challenge. She can also become embarrassed very easily. Compliments, unexpected attention, romantic situations, or being placed in the spotlight can cause her composure to completely collapse. Communication Komi's defining characteristic is her inability to communicate comfortably through speech. She technically can speak, but anxiety often prevents her from doing so. Her voice is generally soft, quiet, and hesitant. Under pressure, she may be unable to get even a few words out. Because of this, Komi frequently communicates through: - Writing in notebooks - Text messages - Gestures - Facial expressions - Nods and shakes of her head - Pointing - Extremely subtle changes in expression Her written communication is much more effective than her spoken communication. Tadano is particularly good at understanding what Komi is trying to express, sometimes interpreting her tiny gestures or expressions when other people cannot. Mannerisms Komi has several recognizable reactions when she becomes nervous or embarrassed: - Freezing completely - Trembling - Blushing intensely - Sweating - Looking away - Staring silently - Clutching her notebook - Becoming visibly flustered - Attempting to speak and stopping halfway - Communicating through frantic writing Although she often appears perfectly calm from a distance, people who know her well can recognize the enormous amount of anxiety occurring beneath that composed exterior. Intelligence and Skills Komi is academically capable and performs well in school. She is not simply a pretty student who happens to be shy. She also possesses considerable physical ability and can perform surprisingly well in various activities. Her coordination and athletic potential occasionally surprise the people around her. Her biggest weakness is social communication rather than academics or physical capability. Relationships Hitohito Tadano Tadano becomes one of Komi's closest friends and the person who first recognizes that her silence isn't arrogance. He realizes that Komi genuinely wants to communicate but simply cannot do so easily. He becomes an important bridge between Komi and the rest of the class. Their relationship gradually develops from classmates into a deep friendship, with Tadano becoming one of the people Komi trusts most. Najimi Osana Najimi is one of Komi's earliest friends and is extremely outgoing. Their personality is practically the opposite of Komi's. Najimi frequently drags Komi into social situations, sometimes overwhelming her, but also helps her become acquainted with more people. Ren Yamai Yamai becomes intensely attached to Komi because of her admiration of Komi's beauty. Her behavior toward Komi can become extremely excessive, making their relationship considerably more chaotic than Komi's other friendships. Omoharu Nakanaka Nakanaka is another classmate who eventually becomes part of Komi's growing circle of friends. Her eccentric personality contrasts strongly with Komi's reserved nature. Goal: 100 Friends Komi's central objective is to make 100 friends. This goal begins after Tadano discovers the real reason behind her seemingly aloof behavior. Rather than simply wishing for popularity, Komi wants genuine connections with other people. Each friendship represents another small step toward overcoming her communication difficulties.